California is the largest supplier of food in the nation, and UC Davis works on solutions to improve its farms.

As a land-grant university, UC Davis works with California stakeholders, giving them the research to back their policy decisions.

The campus boasts 5,300 acres of land, 2,300 of those dedicated to ag.

Beyond ag, UC Davis is a leader in bridging the gap between agriculture and the environment. We’ve received $181 million in funding for agricultural, environmental and human and social science research.

3. Campus Sustainability

Students ride their bikes on Hutchison Drive on the first day of fall quarter 2018. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

UC Davis’ campus sustainability is No. 1 in the nation for a reason. Actually, many reasons. Even though our campus continues to add more students, staff and buildings, carbon output here is on the decline. The goal is to be carbon neutral by 2025, but we might get there even sooner, said Katie Hetrick, senior communication manager with Finance, Operations and Administration.

Sustainable transportation. Only one in four people drive by themselves to UC Davis. That’s partly because we’re one of the most bike-friendly campuses. We’ve been named a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists.

4. Women in STEM

Mechanical engineering and aerospace science and engineering major Rosa Morales was an officer of the Chicano and Latino Engineers and Scientists Society. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

That women are underrepresented in STEM fields is no secret. UC Davis is working to combat that trend.

Our campus is the No. 1 Most Important School for Women in STEM, according to Forbes. The business publication took its list of best value colleges, then filtered for STEM-specializing schools as well as the rate of women’s attendance. UC Davis landed on top during Forbes’ last ranking (in 2016) with 26 percent of students specializing in STEM and 56 percent female enrollment overall.

That’s partly because of the sheer number of faculty and programs in ecology, said Jay Stachowicz, chair of evolution and ecology. His department has 28 faculty members. When combined with other graduate groups, he counts well over 100 faculty across graduate groups in ecology, population biology and related disciplines.

What’s more, the department truly takes on the linkage between ecology and evolution.

The new California Hall at UC Davis boasts nearly 600 seats and cutting-edge technology. The room hosted its first run of classes on Jan. 7, 2019. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis)

Our strengths don’t remain in silos. UC Davis was also named No. 2 “Most Innovative” among California public schools by U.S. News & World Report.

College officials identified schools with “the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.”

UC Davis was named because of our emphasis on sustainable campus planning and our 5,300 acres with about 1,000 buildings that serve more than 36,000 students. We also offer 100 majors and counting, with new interdisciplinary programs created all the time.

7. Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Partners from Baden Aniline and Soda Factory Corp. talk with Professor Tina Jeoh’s biological and agricultural engineering research team in her lab. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

That legacy lives on in TB9, the corrugated metal building for ceramics that was meant to be temporary and now sits on the National Register of Historic Places. The art studio department continues to encourage creative experimentation and cross pollination between disciplines with facilities for drawing, ceramic sculpture, painting, photography, printmaking, video and sculpture.

9. History

The chair of the department, Ed Dickinson, listens to the history honors students describe the progress of their research. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis)

In 2018, more than 20 of its faculty members and graduate students won prizes or fellowships, including American Council of Learned Societies fellowships, the Bancroft Prize and a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship.

Areas of strength include modern U.S. history, Latin American history, women’s and gender history, the history of coercive labor systems, the history of the American West and Middle East/North African history.

10. English

Professor Alessa Johns won a senate teaching award at UC Davis. She specializes in 18th century British literature. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis)

The department stands out because of its cross-disciplinary research and teaching, said Gina Bloom, interim chair of English. The 30 faculty members are affiliated with multiple graduate programs, including critical theory, performance studies, religious studies, cultural studies and education.

They’re also distinguished. Two faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of the Arts. Recent fellowships have come from the Guggenheim, the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Council for Learned Societies.

11. Top 3 Among California Public Colleges

The red and gold of autumn arrived on campus as students cycled on Sprocket Bikeway Nov. 27, 2018. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis)